Philadelphia 76ers @ Orlando Magic (-9) NBA Pick: I know it’s just the pre-season, but the Magic absolutely walked through opponents like they were playing against back-ups. There’s something to be said for an offense that has been clicking for weeks. Especially when they are playing against an offense that hasn’t clicked at all. If the Magic looked like the best pre-season offense, the most comfortable, all the pieces clicking – the 76ers looked like a box of random toys, a couple legos, a building block, a barbie, two dinosaurs, and a coloring book. I know they are learning a new offense, but that’s exactly it, they haven’t figured it out yet. They have some studs, so guys who can get their shot like Andre Iguodala, Lou Williams, and Thadeus Young can stroke jumpers as well, but together they look like a bunch of pieces not fitting together, not yet anyway. Vince Carter is ready to show his worth and Jameer Nelson is excited to be back after he was injured late last season for much of the Magic’s playoff run. These two teams know each other well, meeting in the playoffs last season as the 76ers took a couple from Orlando, even one in Orlando. But this is a different 76ers offense, They are not comfortable in what they are doing, and that should make the difference.
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Detroit Lions vs Green Bay Packers NFL Pick
Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers (-13): The Packers coming off a bye week preparing for a Lions team that has a list of injured players you couldn’t count using just your fingers (who can count past their fingers these days anyway?) – It’s hard not to be all gung-ho about the Packers chances at winning by a couple touchdowns. But the Lions have been decent in some games this season. They got kicked around by the Saints in Week 1, sure, but they fought and battled tough in their last 4 games, giving the Vikings, Redskins, Bears, and Steelers all they could handle (in fact, they gave the Redskins more than they could handle). You look at the scores, and Pittsburgh was the first time the Lions lost by less than double digits this season, and even that took a late touchdown strike from Daunte Culpepper. But the injuries are mounting, and while I don’t like going against a double digit dog, especially one that plays better on the road, it’s too hard to look past the 4 starting defensive players that are questionable, the best player on their team is also questionable (Calvin Johnson), and their running game hasn’t been good against anybody so far this season. What does that tell me? If I’m leaning one way, I’m taking the Packers coming off a bye week.